Heterogeneous smooth muscle cell population derived from small and larger arteries.
Vascular lesion formations in such disease states as hypertension and atherosclerosis occur in a district-specific manner. Large conduit and small resistance arteries play district-specific roles in the regulation of organ perfusion. Using a culture method, we studied the morphology and growth of smooth muscle cells derived from small arteries (S-SMCs, less than 90 microm in internal diameter) and from larger arteries (L-SMCs, ranging from 800 to 900 microm) of the rat mesenteric arterial bed. S-SMCs showed a hill-and-valley pattern, whereas L-SMCs showed sheet or whorl formation. The majority of S-SMCs were smaller, bipolar-shaped; in contrast, the majority of L-SMCs were larger, polygonal-shaped. Actin fibers within S-SMCs were oriented in a bipolar manner from the nuclei, whereas those within L-SMCs had a radial appearance. [3H]Thymidine incorporation induced by serum, platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF), or mechanical stretch was greater in S- vs L-SMCs. The population doubling time measured after the addition of serum or PDGF was shorter in S- vs L-SMCs. Thus, distinct morphological and growth phenotypes of SMCs exist in small and larger arteries of the same vascular bed.
Nakamura
A
A
First Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, 980-77, Japan.
Isoyama
S
S
Watanabe
T
T
Katoh
M
M
Sawai
T
T
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003893:Desmin / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D003893:Desmin; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine